The Indo Daily: Rise and fall of Roman Polanski – the Oscar-winning fugitive facing new abuse allegations at 90

A file picture of film director Roman Polanski portraited during Netia Off Camera film festival on May 2nd, 2018 in Krakow, Poland. On July 2022 a California appeals court has ordered the unsealing of some documents in the criminal case against renowned director Roman Polanski, who's been a fugitive since pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl 45 years ago. (Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Roman Polanski, has lived a life of deep tragedy, artistic genius and irrefutable scandal. The French-born Polish film director has courted many dark controversies throughout his career.

His family suffered loss with the death of his mother in the Holocaust. Polanski went on to build an unlikely artistic career of magnificent achievement. But at the height of his career, this underdog story turns sour as allegations surfaced that the Chinatown and Rosemary's Baby director raped a 13-year-old girl in 1977.

In August 1977 Polanski pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, but months later fled the United States for France on the eve of his sentencing hearing. He has lived abroad in exile ever since.

Today on the Indo Daily, Fionnán Sheahan is joined by pop culture journalist and broadcaster Jenn Gannon to discuss Polanski's life of contradictions and the new abuse claims the actor now faces at 90 years old.